Weighing scale



May 27, 1930. A. L. BUCK 1,760,342

WEIGHING SCALE Filed Sept. 26, 1928 1 .ELL. Eu ck Patented May 27, 1930 ALONZO L. BUCK, OF LANGLEY, SOUTH CAROLINA WEIGHING SCALE Application filed September 26, 1828.

This inv .ltlOli has reference to weighing scales and its object is to relieve the bearings 01": weight when a weighing operation has ceased so that wear upon the bearings and cooperating parts will be minimized and the life and accuracy of the machine will be enianced.

The invention proy'ides a device tor the stated purpose which will operate automati cally to stop movement of the scale beam or evers and will tend constantly to hold the same in an inactive position so tl, at t; scale cannot be left in an unlocked condition.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional. elevation of a portion of a weighing scale mechanism showing the application thereto of my invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the dash pot mechanism whereby the locking elements are held in active position and the shock oi their return to active position. is absorbed.

Figure 3 is an. enlarged section showing the locking elements.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the roll r carrying rod which cooperates with the scale beam.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of column which may be of any approved form and contains a portion or the linkage connecting the platform lovers with an indicating mechanism housed behind a dial 2 over which plays a pointer 3. The particular scale chosen for illustration in Figure 1 includes tare beam 4 and the device of the present invention is shown arranged to act upon the tare beam but it will be understood that the locking device may be arranged to act upon any scale beam and the showing of the drawing is chosen merely for convenience.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a pair of spindles 5 and 6 which are arranged in axial alinement and journaled in the opposite side walls of the column as Serial No. 308,458.

shown in F igure 3, each spindle being provided within the column with a crank 7 dis posed parallel with the adjacent wall of the column and constructed adjacent its free end portion with a longitudinal slot 8 shown in Figure 1. A rod 9 is carried by and between the cranks 7 and has flattened end portions 10 adapted to lit within the repective slots 8 so that rotation of the rod relative to the cranks will be prevented and the rod may be adjusted longitudinally of the cranks. The extremities of the rod form threaded studs 11 adapted to receive nuts turned home against the outer sides of the respective cranks whereby the rod will be secured in a set position. Adjacent one flattened portion 10 there is a reduced cylindrical teuon 12 formed on the rod 9 and upon this tcnoa 12 is fitted a roller 13 which is adapted to bear against the lower edge of the beam at, as indicated in Figure 1. At the front of the structure a handle 14 of any convenient form is secured to the projecting end of the spindle 5 so that the spindle may be rocked in the operation of the devic and it will be understood that it the handle be rocked in the proper direction the cranks 7 will he swung upwardly so that the sufiicient prcssure will be exerted upon the tare beam or other scale beam to prevent oscillation at the same and the scale will be thereby locked against action, and wear upon the bearings and other parts will be minimized. By providing a roller 13 to engage the beam, friction upon the beam is reduced, and the annular shoulder defined at the inner end of the tenon 12 serves to maintain the roller in the vertical plane of the beam so that these pa rts will always be in proper operative relation. hen the scale is to be used the handle 14; is rocked so as to swing the crank arms 7 downwardly and thereby permit the beam to operate in the usual manner. To limit the downward movement of the cranks, set screws 15 are mounted in the wall of the column 1 so that the cranks may swing down to a point commensurate with the maximum load of the scale and consequently will be again engaged by the beam if the scale should happen to be overloaded, To limit the up- Ward movement of the cranks set 16 are mounted in the wall of the column above the spindles 5 and in position to engage the cranks when they have been swung to a verticalposition.

tlecured upon the spindle 5 between the cranks '5 thereof 1 the adiacent wall of the echo is ecce. which is preferably elliptical oblong block extending in i lirection the cranks 'i. i secured one end of a chain iec'tion l8 wl'iich exte ds outwardly through an opening 19 in the wall oi the column and hen downwardly to carry :1. plunger -7 the chain or i shown in Figu or cable will be properly rill-ow the bracket to the coli l e is y theretroin in the vertical p of the bracket 22. Secured upon the bracket 23 is a ylinder constituting the on 1 wall of or ii pot and within which the piston or plunger plays, shown in Figure 2. securel to the rod 19 above the top of ie dash pot isa cross bar or yoke having side rods 26 secured in and ending from its ends and pa o eninggs 2? provided there- L; by cross suspended k ton,

3O frict' i j, the cylind r 24 an pward movwient 0 same may escape while upon downlow the piston will oped to some extent ie downward i i being; tl'icreby re. cted so that upon the working parts will be ab- A valve 31 is provir ed at the lower d oi? the cylinder permit ve 'ing; of the trapped ir so that while the movement will be restricted and shock absorbed, the piston a e a conu iletc stro Normally, the

'1 i is at the lower end the cylinder and .5 Y will be held up against the scale n by reason oi the connection between the :on and the eccentric 17. When the cranks downwardly by manual manipulat on of tee handle 14 the chain or cable 18 is wound partly about the eccentric 17 and the piston 20 with the yoke 25 and the parts suspended therefrom are raised. During the wei operation the attendant will retain *f hold upon the handle 14: so as to keep the c no 7 in their lowered position and permit ends of the rods 26 are connectee bar 28 from v' ch weigh 29 in any convo The V cmupr a i l that the pistes a 2' shot 1 1 il'flfl toe edges the? ,i

oscillation of the scale beam. .Vhen the ot the object has been ascertained the see his iold upon the handle 14:

wein'lit attendant rel-ea nlun qer or piston head and the weight 29 together with the weight of the cross bars 25 and 28 and the side rods will immediately cause the piston to descend and swing the cranks 7 upwardly so as to lock the beani. It will thus be seen that the scale can not be left in an unlocked condition to permit excessive oscillation of the working parts thereof with consequent unnecessary wear upon the bearings.

My device exceedingly simple in the construction ans arrangement of its parts and may be readily applied to any existing" scale as well as embodied in scales to be built.

la ing thus cescribed the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A scale lock comprising a pair of axially alined spindles, cranks on the inner ends oi said spin les a rod adjust ably secured in and extending between the cranks to bear against a scale beam and prevent movenient oi the same, means connected to one of the spindles for manually swinging the cranks away from the scale beam, and means connected with one of tee soindles and constantly tending to hold the cranks to scale beam.

2. A scale lock comprising pair of spindles adapted to be journaled in a scale frame, means carried by said spindles to engage a scale beam and prevent oscillation of the some, means for manually shitting said means from the scale beam, a weight, a flexible connection between said weight and one of the spindles acting constantly thereon to maintain the scale beam in inactive condition, and

means for cushioning themovenient of said weight.

a. A scale lock comprising a pair of rotat ably mounted spindles, means carried by said spindles to engage a scale beam and prevent movement of the same, means for shii in sa d means awav cm the scale beani, an cecentric on one or the spindles, a cylinder disposed below the spindles, a piston working in aid cylinder, flexible connection between the piston and the said eccentric, means for venting the cylinder below the piston, and a weight connected vith the piston and tending constant'y to hold the same in its lowered position. i

In testin'iouny whereof I atlix my signature.

ALONZO L. BUCK. [Ls] 

